Monday, 28 March 2016

Our May 2016 issue hits the shops on Friday this week, although I hope some subscibers have their copies already, despite the bank holidays we have had here in the UK :) They will be landing very shortly I'm sure!

This issue seems to be so jam packed full of inspiration and wonderful tutorials, I just don’t know where to start! Choosing just a few to highlight here is a really difficult task, each project deserves to be singled out!

Anna-Karin Evaldsson is our cover star this month. The focus of her amazing project is stamping onto modeling film, and the 3D, stained glass effect is simply wonderful! I can’t wait to dig out my modeling film and have a go!

We are thrilled to welcome Roc Nicholas to our Craft Stamper family this month. Roc is a stamp designer for Stampotique, so there may just be an exclusive Roc special on our cover soon! In the meantime, she has created a wonderful journal page for us, showing how we can incorporate magazine images into our art. Fabulous!

Tracy Easson is sharing one of her inspirational canvas ‘girls’ with us in this issue. I have to confess, I watch her Facebook feed avidly for all the new art that Tracy shares (not a stalker, honest!), and I just love each and every piece. So whimsical, quite simply gorgeous. I hope you will agree.

We also have a stunning colouring tutorial from Karen Hayselden..

Superb cards featuring layered collage by Ana Kavcic....

a very cool way to use Pebeo glass paint from Jaine Drake..

and an amazing masterclass by Katy Leitch featuring ColourArte Primary Elements in this issue!

Lots for you all to experiment with, and don’t forget I would love to see what you create! Email me, or share on our Facebook page!

For those who do not subscribe, copies of the magazine are available here:

Winners, you need to need to get in touch with me in order to claim your prize! Please email me at: cs@traplet.com , and put TIMI Winner in the subject line, then I'll be sure to spot it!Top Three Design Winners, also please contact me if you wish to receive a button to display on your blog.

Our April challenge will be launched next Friday, the 1st! We can't wait to see what wonderful art you will all be sharing!

Thursday, 24 March 2016

Did you see our fabulous Distress Crayon giveaway we launched earlier in the week on our Instagram page? That doesn't close until next Tuesday, so you still have time to enter! You can find our Instagram page HERE!

All this week we are launching giveaways across all our social media platforms, and today is the day for ourBLOG ONLY

giveaway!

We have a set of the brand new collage mediums from Tim Holtz....

The set comprises of Matt Medium, Vintage Medium and Crazing Medium, each in a dinky, sampler sized 1 oz pot! These sizes are perfect if you just want to try them, or have a few to take to workshops or crops!

So... what do you need to do to win?

Easy peasy, just leave us a comment here on this blog post! (Only one, multiple comments from the same person will be deleted!)
We will pick out a comment at random, at noon UK time on Thursday March 31st.
Entry is open internationally.... don't forget to let all your crafty friends know!

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

THANK YOU so much for all the fabulous cards submitted for our last art call, it was so hard to choose just a few to publish! We can now announce the next theme.....

We
are looking for submissions for our Ready, Set, Stamp feature on the
following theme for our August issue of Craft Stamper. If you've always
wanted to see YOUR card in print, now is your chance!!

Colours: buttercup yellow, leaf green, mauve, peony purple.

Deadline for submission: 26th April 2016

· Please email your submissions to cs@traplet.com

· Please put 'Ready Set Stamp' followed by the theme in the subject line

· Please note that due to the number of submissions it's not possible to
contact every entrant individually - if you have not heard from us within one
week, your submission has not been successful. Please try again with a different card!

Guidelines:

· Please make cards only for this gallery.. Please do not use stamps that are discontinued for this article. .
We do not accept cards ONLY created with digital stamps for this
feature. Digital stamps MUST be used in conjunction with real stamping
to qualify.

· Cards which are selected need to be posted to the Craft Stamper
offices in the UK.

· This call IS open internationally.

· Note that we do choose artwork as it arrives, so please don't wait
until the last minute to submit if your cards are ready.

· Cards will be returned at our expense, along with a complimentary copy
of the magazine in which your card features. Note this can take approx. three
months.

· Please follow both the theme AND the colour scheme
when creating your
cards. You can add black, white and metallics to any of the schemes. The
ideas given are simply that, ideas, and do not have to be followed to
the letter!

· Text for this article is required (don't worry - it is short!) and
should be entered into the document provided – this will be sent to you if you
are selected.

Jannet won the challenge with this amazingproject!We loved how all the separate elements used in the piece came together wonderfully to form the Mary Poppins scene!

We asked Jannet a few questions all about stamping (well, we are Craft Stamper after all!)

Q: How long have you
been a stamper, and how did you get started?

A: I have been stamping since I was a child. I remember having one of those John Bull alphabet stamp sets with teeny tiny letters which had to be put onto the holder with tweezers! I happily progressed to Classic Pooh foam stamps, which I still have and love.

Q: What are your
favourite kinds of stamps, and do you have a favourite stamp company?

A:I like a wide variety of stamps, there are so many available to choose from! Lavinia Stamps are one of my favourite companies, as I love the magical world of stamps they have created. I also adore Inkylicious for their meaningful quotation stamps.

Q: Describe your style,
are you a messy kind of stamper or a more ‘clean and simple’ kind of person?

A: I am probably somewhere in the middle, as I am always trying new things.

Q:What kind of projects do you like creating the most?

A: I especially enjoy making 3D items, such as little scenes, with nature and animal stamps. I use old books, boxes and all sorts of recycled bits and bobs.

Q: Apart from stamps,
what is the one product you wouldn’t be without when you craft?

A: Decoupage scissors are a must have for me. As I am always snipping around little intricate stamped images. I just couldn't do it without my faithful scissors.

We
also asked Jannetto show us a favourite stamped creation,
and share why she likes it so much. Here is the gorgeous project she has
chosen:

"I love A.A. Milne's Pooh books and E H Shepard's wonderful drawings. My blog is called "Enchanted Place" after the magical place in the books.

I made this Classic Pooh scene several years ago. I love the A.A.Milne quote I used on it, it means a lot to me. It still sits happily on my shelf" -Jannet

Congratulations on being our February Design Winner Jannet , and it was lovely to learn a little more about you!

Do YOU fancy having a winners profile all about you on the CS blog?

The
profile is part of the prize package for each Design Winner of our
challenges. All you need to do is enter a creation into the challenge,
then if you are voted Design Winner everyone will be reading all about
you before you know it!

Our
current challenge 'Take A Stamp' : Anything Goes (as long as you have stamped somewhere!) is open until next Wednesday, so still time to enter! All the details can be
found HERE.

See you back here next Fridayfor the announcement of
the Marchchallenge Winners!

Friday, 11 March 2016

Happy Friday everyone! Today is the day we share some more eye candy inspiration from our Design Team!

Our current blog challenge theme is:

Anything Goes

(As long as you have stamped somewhere on your project!)

Show
us how unique you can be, create anything your imagination cares to dream up! Share your
cards, journal pages, layouts, 3D assemblage or whatever else takes your
fancy. Your project can be any theme, any colour you want... as long as
you've stamped somewhere, then you're good to go!

Show
us how unique you can be, create anything your imagination cares to dream up! Share your
cards, journal pages, layouts, 3D assemblage or whatever else takes your
fancy. Your project can be any theme, any colour you want... as long as
you've stamped somewhere, then you're good to go!

We have two prizes on offer, as always. The first is the Sponsor Prize, and the winner of this will be randomly chosen from all the eligible entries of the challenge. To make sure your project is eligible to win, make sure you have followed our challenge guidelines. These can be found on our sidebar over here ---------->

Basement Studio, based in Luxembourg, is the brainchild of talented Craft Stamper Designer Jaine Drake. Full of fabulous mixed media products like paint, mediums, inks, stamps and papers, it is well worth a visit!

The prize this month?

A 20 Euro Voucher to spend in the shop!

Sounds great!

Our
second winner is our Design Winner. This winner is chosen by our DT,
who all vote for their favourite design from all of the entries. This
winner will have their winning project published in Craft Stamper
Magazine, (with a 2 page spread of their very own!), they will have a GDT slot for an upcoming challenge, and will
also feature in their very own Winners Profile blog post!

I
hope the prizes have given you all an incentive to win...... and how
about some eye candy from the DT to give you some beautifully stamped
inspiration!